New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-27
against Prohibition, alias Free Rum. and heart
lily in favor Of High License. which means
regulation and real restraint.
THE WRECK OF TIE SCOTIA.

It is very difficult to get at the facts in tho
case of the steamer Scotia, which went ashore
on the south shore Of Fire Island early on
Friday morning. She was full Of Italian i'm
migrants, and her captain and officers are also
Italians. The difficulty of foreign language
has thus been added to the difficulties which
sclf-interest raises in all such cases. On Its
face the running of the steamer ashore looks
like gross negligence and want Of due vigilance.
The story that tho steamer was purposely
beached rests on no foundation, 80 far as can
be asccrtained, while II is intrinsically pre-
postcrous, seeing that there was no conceiv-
able reason for so desperate and dangerous a
proceeding. Tho truth appears to be that the
captain of the Scotia was following the bad
prccedcnt which has led so many other steam
ers hard and fast aground in the same neigh
borhood. According to one report he had no
lead on board, though that is scarcely credible.
At any rate, he might as well have had no lead
on board, for no did not use it. 1t is again
rumored that he mistook Fire Island Light for
Shinnccock Light. All that Is certainly known
is that he was coming ahead at full speed, and
apparently without any lookout. when he drove
on shore, luckily plunging into sand-bank,
with shock that brought both masts by the
board.
As to the masts, indeed. there is more than
one story. Some say that the captain cut them
away before the Scotia took the ground, though
this sounds altogether improbable. as the cap
tain is not understood to assert that his vessel
was in any distress previous to her catastrophe.
II looks as If the public would have to wait for
the report Of the Naval Court OF Inquiry In
order to know with certainty just how the
wreck occurred. At the Same time there arc
facts enough available to Justify the conclusion
that tho lives OF some 900 people were put in
grave jeopardy without the least necessity or
excuse There is no justification for so reck-
less an approach to the land as the Scotia
made 1t seems almost incredible that master
in charge Of a crowd of immigrants should
drive his vessel head on TO the shore without
a pilot and without cast Of the lead. and this,
too. at night. 1t is abundantly evident that
the captain did not really know where he was
before he struck, yet only the most unpardon-
able carelessness can account for this lgnor-
ance Her cargo, it is asserted, was too light
to ballast her properly, and therefore she la
bored and did not steer well. AS it is plain
that she was being stccrcd straight across Long
see how her lading can explain anything.
Fortunately but through no foresight or
skill of tho captain. the sea went down before
il had time to knock the steamer to pieces, and
so the immigrants escaped with their lives.
Had the strong wind continued few hours
longer it would have been very difficult TO
land them, and the vessel Lcrsclf might not
have held together under the constant pound
ing she was getting. As to tho talk about the
alleged mysterious currents" it cannot be
utilized rs a scapcgoat. The fact is that no
part Of the world is better surveyed than the
ocean and coast about Ncw-York. The cur
rents have been studied carefully. and ample
information about them is available But when
steamers arc brought in without pilots. and the
lead is neglected. and thick weather docs not
moderate speed. the chances OF disaster are
multiplied indefinitely. Such conduct on the
part OF ship cap, aims in fact constitutes culpa-
bic nav. criminal. negligence, and for the
maintenance OF the reputation OF the port no
less than for the protection OF the public and
tho saving OF unnecessary loss TO insurers, all
cases Of the kind ought TO be investigated most
vigorously. and the responsibility be put where
It belongs. and emphasized by appropriate pen
allies. Subsequent developments may possibly
show cxtcnuatng circumstances but In the
light OF present knowledge the wreck OF the
scotia appears n case Of fragrant neglect
and rcclilcssncss.